The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

Several minutes after the 49ers’ overtime loss in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” blared over the public-address system at Candlestick. Fans by the hundreds remained in their seats, staring vacantly down toward the fie… …

As most of his teammates quickly put on their civilian clothes Sunday night, Kyle Williams sat at his locker and slowly peeled off the remnants of his 49ers uniform. One teammate stopped to offer words of consolation. Williams removed his skull cap and… …

The 49ers made the defensive adjustments, holding Victor Cruz to two catches after he had eight in the first half. And they gave the Giants plenty of looks, coming at Eli Manning in waves at the end, sacking him six times and hitting him on another doz… …

After the last ball had been snapped and the last kick had been kicked, the 49ers’ head coach strode swiftly across the field to shake hands with his counterpart.
There was no incident this time. No exuberant back slapping, or ridiculous scuffling. Jim… …

Alex Smith had difficulty locating open receivers beyond Vernon Davis, whom he found for deftly thrown touchdown passes of 73 and 28 yards. As a result, the 49ers were 1-for-13 on third down, their lone conversion coming on a desperation pass…

There is glory in being part of the resurrection of a dog-dead franchise in one excellent season – zero to 60 in 18 games.
There is glory in being the surprise team of the NFL, and in fighting your way to the NFC Championship Game.
There is glory in ea… …

The disappointment of Sunday’s overtime loss to the New York Giants cannot eclipse the thrills and wonder of the San Francisco 49ers’ remarkable run this season.
Only the most delusional of fans could have imagined before the season that rookie coach J… …

With history within their grasp, the 49ers, a historically mistake-free team, fumbled away their chance to reach their first Super Bowl in 17 years.
Thanks to two fumbled punt returns by Kyle Williams – one in the fourth quarter and the other in overti… …

Fans of the 49ers braved sodden skies and maddening traffic jams at Candlestick Park, turned pubs around the Bay Area into seas of rollicking red, and cheered with friends at house parties, all in a bid to usher their team to its first Super Bowl in 17… …

In the Niners’ 27-20 regular-season win, New York did not start any of its 10 drives beyond their own 22-yard line. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time a team hasn’t started a drive beyond its own 22 since the Broncos didn’t begin a drive beyond their 20 in a 24-17 win over the Chiefs on Dec. 7, 2008. …

Alex Smith graciously conceded a point this past week. For all the slights and insults he has endured as a late-blooming quarterback drafted at No. 1, he acknowledged that Eli Manning, his counterpart in today’s NFC Championship Game, has faced more ob… …

This week’s edited KNBR conversation between former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo and Rod Brooks:
Brooks: You were one of the first to pick up on this team having a chance to do something great.
DeBartolo: I told that to Jed (York), I think it was after… …

Twenty-one years and two days ago, the worst thing ever to happen in Bay Area sports happened. The New York Giants beat the 49ers 15-13 in the 1990 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park.
Now, to write that sentence – “The New York Giants beat the 4… …